ARRIVAL OF THE DISMASTED SHIP CORDOVEN.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1934, 17 October 1874, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE DISMASTED SHIP CORDOVEN.

[southern cross, sept 22]. . The appearance of a large dismasted ship rounding the North Read yesterday afternoon, gave rise to rumerous conjectures, and a rumor got abroad that it was the ship Zealandia, from Londoh, but the Swedish engine hoisted ab the mizen-masfc head at once decided her nationality. On boarding her she proved to be the Cornoven, a Swedish ship, of 1067 tons, bound from Sydney to San Francisco, deeply laden with a cargo of 1600 tons of coal. She is originally from London to Adelaide, where she loaded wheat for Sydney, makin • a fast run of seven days between the new latter ports. Captain Vieglick states that he left Sydney for San Francisco on the 15th September, and had light S.S.W. winds, with fine weather, for the last two days, although there was a great deal of lightning at sunset, with an unusually low barometer. On the 18th, the wind backed into the W.S.W., but the fine weather continued until noon on the 20th, when the wind shifted to the N.E., gradually increasing in strength until the 21st, at which date it was blowing a hard gale, with thunder, lightning, hail, and terrific squalls, increasing in violence and brought with it a frightful sea. which made clean breaches over the vessel, and she was hove-to under lower and main topsails and mizen staysail. On tbe afternoon of that day a sea entirely swept away a bo it hanging to the davits, as well as doing other damage about the main deck, which was continually flooded with water. At 9 a.m on the 22nd it was blowing a hurricane, and the lower, fore and main topsails were goosewimied — the lee clues only set. At this time nearly all the sails, though furled, were blown adrift from the gaskets A fearful sea was now running, causing her to roll so heavily as to loosen the standing rigging, particularly that attached to the maintopmast, which swayed about so much with the roll of the ship that the maintopgallantmast and yard were cut away to save it — however, to no purpose, for it was tbe first spar to go ovsr the side, taking with it the foretopgaUaafcraasfc which caught in the topmast rigging and could not be cleared. The mainmast fell on deck almost immediately afterwards, smashing the waist boats lying on the skids before the cabin door. In falling the mast divided into three piecs, one of which got adrift on the deck, and was secured with great difficulty and risk, after breaking the topgallant rails and bulwarks, and smashing the bitts and ship's pumps. The latter were afterwards repaired by the carpenter on board. The fall of the mainmast brought with it the mizen topgallantmast and topmast also the mizen masthead, which carried away close above the eyes of the lower rigging, but fell away to leeward. Tbe lanyards were cut, and it was sent adrift as speedily as possible, for it threatened soon to drive a hole through her side. Tbe whole of the yards, masts, and rigging belonging to the main and mizzenmasts had to be cut adrift, excepting the crotsjack yard and the tnizzenmast itself, with its standing rigging. The only spars saved were a broken foretopgallant yard and topgallant mast. The foremast and foretopmast with the yards are still aloft. After her spars went by the board, she was in great danger of getting into the trough of the sea, and rolled very heavily, as she had no sail to steady her. ') he wind still continued to blow with great violence till 4 p.m on the 22nd, when it veered to S.S.W. and moderated. The position of the ship when the greatest force of tho was feit was in latitude 35 40 S., 16730 E. Fortunately no loss of life or broken limbs resulted from the falling spars, the only one hurt being.the third mate, who whilst cutting away some of the rigging aloft, fell along with it, but broke no bones, and is now nearly recovered. The captain received at one time a severe tossing, but was not materially injured. On the 23rd the crew cleared away the remainder of the wreck, and got up a spare topmast for a jury mast, on which sail was made with the wind ac south, and a course shaped for Auckland.